Washing machine



June 21, 1932 s. H. STOFFEL WASHING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1930 1720-2 78 5 0 6, H SV-WGZ,

Patented June 21, 1932 SIMON HENRI STOFFEL, F DELFT, NETHERLANDS WASHING MACHINE Application filed July 21, 1930, Serial No. 469,583, and in the Netherlands August 1, 1929.

Washing machines for laundries, comprising a relatively long and wide horizontal drum adapted to be rotated alternately in a clockwise and in a counterclockwise direc- 6 tion, are sometimes provided with a twosided drive in order to'avoid damage to the drum from the frequent angular accelerations and retardations to which it is subjected.

The objectof my present invention is to obtain the same result with a one-sided drive, that is to say, with a construction that is appreciably cheaper to make. With this object in view, I suggest to providethe drum with a coaxial tubular member secured to both end walls thereof, further to fix the central portion of said tubular member to the driving shaft and to secure the driving wheel of the one-sided drive to said shaft.

It will be understood that the torque of the driving shaft will thus be divided into equal parts which are transmitted by the tubular member to both end walls of the drum.

The said tubular member may function as a shaft taking up the weight of the drum,

or said weight may be supported by the driving shaft, which in that case should extend throu hout the tubular member and have an extra hearing at the side of the drum opposite the said driving wheel.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a drum of a washing machine illustrating a one form of the invention, parts being shown in elevation.

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating another form of the invention.

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating a third form of the invention.

The drum is composed of a cylindrical, perforated outer shell 1, an inner cylinder 3 and a plurality of transverse partitions 2, defining a plurality of washing cells. The shell 1 is secured at both ends to the rims of spoke wheels 4, which are disposed on either side and to the hub portions 5 of which the ends of a tubular connecting member 6 are welded. In the central portion of said tubular memher 6 and to the inner wall thereof rings 7 are secured, which in turn are welded on the driving shaft 8. This shaft asses through a ring 9, which is inserted in the hub portion of the right hand side spoke wheel 4 and provided with a bearing bush (.5 10, a driving gear 11 being keyed on that end portion of shaft 8 which projects from said wheel. Intermediate between gear wheel 11 and bush 10, the shaft 8 is supported by a bearing 12.

The left hand side end portion of the tubular member 6 is secured through rings 13, to a trunnion 14; supported by a bearing block 15;

Alternatively, as in Figure 3, the tubular member 6 may project from both wheels 4, in which case its projecting ends may be supported by suitable roller hearings or the like,

so that said member takes up the weight of c the drum. Again, as in Figure 2, the shaft 8 may be integral with the trunnion 14, in which case its left hand end portion (14;) should project from a bearing bush corresponding with bush 10, in order that the torques may be transmitted to the hubs 5 exclusively from the central portion of shaft 8.

It will be understood that the two rings 7 may be replaced by one single ring.

The use of a one-sided drive in accordance with this invention means a saving of first cost and'also results in a lighter construction than when the shaft is connected to both end walls of the drum, because in that case the shaft should have a comparatively large diameter in order to be sufliciently rigid.

What I claim is 1. In combination with a drum mounted for rotary reciprocation, a tubular member extending axially of the drum, and connected to the drum adjacent the axial terminals of the latter and otherwise free of connection with the drum, a drive shaft extending longitudinally of said member and having driving connection therewith only at the midlength of the member, and drum driving 5 means connected to one end of the shaft.

2. In combination with a drum mounted for rotary reciprocation and including a hollow axial part, a hollow member extending longitudinally ofthe hollow axial part of the drum and connected to said hollow axial part at the terminals thereof only said hollow member extending beyond the ends of the drum and serving as means to support the drum for rotary reciprocation, a drive shaft extending longitudinally of said member and connected to the latter only at substantially its mid-length, and drum driving means at one end of the shaft.

3. In combination with a drum mounted for rotary reciprocation and including a hollow member forming a drum axis, a tubular element extending longitudinally of said member and connected to the member substantially at the terminals of the latter, the tubular element being otherwise free of connection with said hollow member, a drive shaft extending longitudinally of the tubular element and beyond the same in both directions to provide a rotative support for the drum, a connection intermediate said shaft and tubular member at substantially the mid-length of the latter, the shaft being otherwise free of connection with the tubular member, and driving means at one end of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SIMON HENRI STOFFEL. 

